Intermittent marking devices



'Jan. 15, A B C Y INTERMITTENT MARKING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1952 INVENTOR ANDREW' L. BQCHY BY ATTORNEY Jan. 15,1957 A. L. BACHY 2,777,385

INTERK/IITTENT MARKING DEVICES Filed March .4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 i i :0 INVENTOR 3$; 1,. BY H NDREW L. BFICHY '26 ATTORNEY United rates Patm INTERMITTENT MAG DEVICES Andrew L. Easily, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application March 4, 1952, Serial No. 274,783

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-42) This invention relates to machines or apparatus for use in what I term type marking of strip material of various types and kinds such, for example, as plastic or other flexible tubing. More particularly, the inventiondeals with an apparatus of the character described employing an intermittently actuated ribbon fed'through different positions beneath a plunger having at its lower end an adjustable type head whereby in the operation of the machine a series of characters of the type head can be applied to strip material supported beneath thehead, means being provided for severing the marked strip material into predetermined lengths. Still more particularly, the invention deals With an apparatus of the character described having means whereby the line of type of said head may be inked by the ribbon prior to movement of the type into engagement with the strip totbe marked.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following descriptions, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective viewvof a machine or apparatus made according to my invention illustrating the parts in raised position and indicating part of a tube to be marked in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the lower portion of the apparatus and omitting part of the background showing, the section being substantially on the line 22 of Fig. l.

I Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing only a part of the construction and with parts in a difierent posi-.

tion.

4 of the left side of the apparatus as indicated in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective-view of a modified form of ribbon guide and operating slide which I employ; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side and sectional view as viewed from the right side of Fig. 1 showing the modified structure of Fig. 5 as well as a movable tape backing ele ment for inking the type preparatory to forming a mark on a workpiece strip, the tape backing being shown in operative position in full lines and in inoperative position in dot-dash lines.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have diagrammatically shown a strip marking device employing a base plate 10 having at the rear portion thereof an upwardly and for- I ably secured to the base plate 10. The block 14 has a Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow positions of adjustment.

longitudinal groove 17 therein which is closed at one end by a plate 18, and in the groove 17 is adjustably fixed by screws 19 a workpiece guide member 25). The member 20 has at one end a raised block 21 with an aperture 22 therein, and at the other end a pair of raised flanges 23 forming a guide channel 24 for the work strip 25. The work strip 25 in the construction shown is in the form of a plastic or other flexible tubing, and the plate 18 extends slightly beyond the flanges 23 and forms part of a shearing or cutting tool. The blade. 26 of this tool is pivoted as at 27 to one end portion ofthe block 15. The blade 26 serves to shear the workpiece strip 25 into predetermined lengths, these lengths being determined by an adjustable stop finger or arm 28 adjustable on a rod 29. i

At 30 I have shown a vertically movable plunger. mounted in the aperture 12 of the arm 11, the plunger. supporting at its lower end a casing 31 of a type head.

and the casing having a depending rear portion 32 and a forwardly extending horizontal portion 33. The casing 31 is also partially formed by an inverted U-shaped front plate 34 held in position by nuts 35. The plate- 34 and the vertical portion 32 of the casing have on adjacent surfaces grooves 36 for receiving protruding ends of the top plate 37 of a type wheel holder 38, the type wheels of which are indicated at 39. The separate wheels are, relatively adjustable to dispose one line or row of predetermined type in marking position as is indicated I A series of spring fingers 41 are employed in the holder 38 to support the type wheels in predetermined it will be understood that the holder 38 can be adjusted lengthwise of the grooves 36 toposition the type in any desired location between the members 21 and 23 of the bar 20. The plate 34 serves to" retain the member 38 in diiferent positions of adjustment. Coupled with the side of the forward portion of the arm 11, as at 42, is a coil spring 44 which also' couples with the head 31 as seen at 45. This spring normally serves to support the head 31 in raised position. The plunger 30 is moved downwardly againstthe action of the spring 44 by any suitable drive or action as. for example,-a hand operated lever 46. The lever. 46 is pivoted in a suitable bearing 47 on one side of the-arm 11, and on the shaft 48 of the lever is a pinion 49 operatively engaging a rack 50 on the rear surface of the plunger 30.

Secured to the rear surface of the head 31 is an upwardly extending widespread yoke 51 to the upwardly extending arms 52 and 53 on which are rotably supported-ribbon spools 54 and 55, respectively, these spools being substantially similar to the typewriter ribbon spools, and the ribbon of such spools is indicated at 56. The spool 55 will have a suitable tension mounting soas to maintain the ribbon reasonably taut whereas the spool 54 has a positive intermittent drive in each stroke motion of the plunger 30.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing I have shown arear view of the arm 52 with the spool 54 mounted thereon, andat 57 I'have shown a gear or sprocket fixed to the axis of the spool 54, and rotatable on this axis is a lever 58 supporting at its outer end a spring actuated pawl 59 for operatively engaging the tooth wheel or ratchet 57. The inner end of the lever 58 is freely pivoted in a pair of bearings one of which is seen at 60, the pivot being shown at 61. In Fig. 4 of the drawing the parts are shown in the normal or raised position as indicated in Fig. l of the drawing. However, as the lever 46 is swung forwardly to move the plunger 30 downwardly, the lever-58.or the outer end portion thereof is also swung downwardly, the pawl 59 engaging the tooth wheel 57 in this operation to partially rotate the spool 54 to an extent equal to-the arcof, travel of the lever 58, and in theupward movement of the plunger, the pawl will glide freely over-the teeth, the ratchet 57 being held stationary by its frictional support during this operation. At 62 and 63, I have shown ad; justable split blocks for tensionally controlling'the spools 54 and SS; Milled nuts 62'- and 63- are employed to control detachable mounting of the spools 54 and55.

At the upper portion of the plunger 30, I have shown a stop member 64 adjustably. supported with'respect to the-plunger by means of a-screw- 65" having anenlarged head 651 engaging the upper surface of said stop-member, and a setscrew 66 operatively. engaging a groove 66' in the screw 65. In the, downward movement of the plunger 30, the stop member 64'- engages the upper-surface of the arm ll'and, in so doing, limits the downward movement of-the type head'31. Theadjustment-provided in the-stopmember 64 therefore permits regulation of the fully de' pressed position of the type hea'd31;

Carried by the head 31 is a-ribbon guide and "pressure plate 6.7-havinga pairof angularslots opening-through the forward end thereof to facilitate attachment anddetachment of the ribbon 56. At 69is-showna-pair of'clips which arepositioned on theplate 67-toborder the-row-of type .definedby the discs 39-forming pressure bars disposedbelow the ribbon 56 toengage and 'press thetube 25downwardly, thus presenting a relatively flat surface to receive the imprint of the type inthemanner diagram maticallyshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Adjustably supported on the yoke 51 through the medium of a screw 70 is a cam element-71 protruding from the lower surface of the yoke 51 as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The cam operates on abevelled surface 72:011 the upper edge of the cutter blade 26 in the operation of moving the cutter blade downwardly in the descent of the plunger 30, and this serves to maintain the surface of the blade 26 against the outer surface of the plate 18'10 produce a perfect shear operation upon the workpiece in-cuttingoff predetermined lengths governed by the adjustmentof the stop finger 28: A coil spring-73'is coupled with the finger 26 and with the yoke 51. and serves to normally maintain the blade in raised position inFig. lot the drawing.

The plate 67-is supported in the head 31-' by upwardlyextending'rods orpins 74'having a threaded engagement withthe. plate 67 and a sliding bearing engagementwith thehead 31. The'head 31 is providedwith enlarged bores 31 receiving springs 75 engaging enlarged heads 74 of saidpinsto normally urgethe same in a downward direc-" t1on.-. Springs 75 are retained in the bores 31-- by screwplugs 75' permitting adjustment of the tension of the"- springsr75; It will be understood that in-thedownward movement of the plunger 30 the plate 67, togetherwith" the clips 69, will first engage the tube 25 and move'the same into'the flattened condition, this operation beingperformed under the tension of the springs 75', andthe-head 31.prceeds to move downwardly on the rods or pins 74 in moving. the row of type 40- from a position substantially as notednin Fig.- 2 to the position illustrated inFig". 3.

IrrFigs. and'6 of the drawing, I have shown a slight tendencyto create a slight blur or spreading ofthe impression, which blur or spreadingis obviated by first inking. the characters and then directly moving the-inked characters into engagement with. the workpiece.

In marking. tubing and. other flexible types of workpieces, there is a In accomplishing the foregoing, I provide an apertured I plate. 67' generally similar to the plate shown at 67 in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, on which is supported a pair of sliding rods 77 (note Fig. 5), the rods having elongated apertures as at 78 engaging screws 79 fixed to the plate 67'. The rods have inner cross-head ends 80, preferably with anti-friction rollers or other outer members as at 81, and springs 82 are employed to normally support the rod 77 in what may be termed an operative position. The springs 82 fit in sockets in the plate 67 as will be apparent. Fixed to the upper surface of the rod 77 are ribbon engaging yokes 83 through which the ribbon, as at 56, is adapted to pass in entering the slots 68', similar to the slots 68. With this construction I suitably support on the block 15, similar to the block 15, a pair of upwardly extended cams 84 having cam surfaces 85 adapted to be engaged by the rollers 81 to move the rod 77 as well as the ribbon 56 forwardly out of registering position with the rowrof type as at 40 (note Fig. 6) as the plunger of the machine moves downwardly. In other words, the plunger 30' of Fig. 6 moves downwardly in bringing the row oftype 40 into direct marking engagement with a flattened workpiece tube indicated in dot and dash lines at 25 in Fig. 6.

Inorder to facilitate marking I provide a ribbon backingblock 86(note Fig. 6). This block is supportedupon a .spring' arm 87 tensionedto support the ribbon 56' normallyin engagementwith the exposed row of type 40 to constantly inkthe same when the machine is in its inoperativeposition.

Theispring arm 87 issupported at the free end of a lever 88and pivoted to'the arm 11 of the machine, similar to' the :arm 11,: the pivot being indicated at 89, and this pivot operates. in' an elongated slot 90 in the arm 11'. At 91 I have shown a drive link or crank pivoted to the forward end portion of the lever 8i as at 92. The link 91 is mounted on a shaft 93'supported on the arm 11 or an extension-9.4 on said. arm, theshaft having a gear 95 fixed. thereto. The gear. 95 meshes with a large diameter gear 96. pivoted to 94, as seen at 97. The gear 96 meshes with the pinion 49, similar to the pinion 49 and arranged upon the shaft 48 to which an operating lever similar to the lever .46 is secured.

With the construction asshown in Fig. 6, it will be understood that as the plunger 30 is moved downwardly the rotation of the pinion 49 will cause the drive link 91 to be actuated to swing the backing block 86 in the downwardandirearward path generally indicated by the dot and dash line 98 in Fig. 6 to move into the position indicated in-dot and dash lines of said figure so as to clear the head lfl" as it movesin. the direction ofthe workpiece 25', the latter being supported on a structure identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. For this'reason, no furtherdetailed description of the machine is deemed to be'necessary. In the aforesaid downward movement of theplunger 30, the earns 84 will .be engaged:

tomove the rod 77 forwardly, thus swinging the ribbon 56- forwardly to clear the workpiece and the aligned type 40-. Thus the'inked type will directly engage the workpiece 25' informing a clear imprint or mark on the workpiece.

In -the construction shown, it will be notedthat one edge portion only of the ribbon is utilized. Thus, when" arribbonend has been reached, the spools as at 54, 55

oii Fig'; 1' ofthe drawing, can simply be'reversed in their mountingswhich: will automatically position the other edge-portion of the ribbon in position to be utilized. In this *way, long life of the ribbon will be experienced. I found in practicethat in marking certain types and kinds of-workpieces andparticularly plastic workpieces, that typewriter ribb'onsrhaving a penetrating ink are desir.

able, and further, an ink that dries quickly; and by utilizingribbonssof this type and kind, more or 16531361"? manentmarkings are provided in the plastics, that isto. say, markingswhich cannot be rubbed off or scrapedotf.

with light scraping. It will also be understood that in utilizing the machine for marking other types and kinds of workpieces, that different inks or difierently inked ribbons can be employed, and in colors which will suit the intended purpose. In some instances special colored inking ribbons will be provided. It will also be apparent in some uses of the machine or apparatus, that long or more or less endless workpieces can be marked at predetermined intervals in which case an intermittent feed of the workpiece will be provided so as to position predetermined, spaced sections of the workpiece in position to receive successive markings. 7

It will also be understood that from time to time the markings may be changed by adjustment of the respective wheels or discs 39. On the other hand, a completely new marking unit having different characterizations thereon can be quickly and easily assembled in the machine by simply removing the plate 34 and pulling the unit outwardly through the machine. By employing the yokeshaped structure of the plate 34, the type wheels of each unit are accessible through the front of the machine for adjustment or setting from time to time.

It will be understood that when the machine is utilized for marking long lengths of workpieces, the cutter knife 26 is simply detached by removal of the retaining nut 27 (note Fig. 1). It will further be noted that in the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, the operating lever 46 is slidably adjustable with respect to the pivotal axis thereof and can be retained in different positions of adjustment by means of a set screw 98. This adjustment which has the effect of varying the degree of movement and the pressure required at the end of the lever 46 to actuate the plunger 30, is advantageous both in hand operated machines and in devices wherein the lever 46 forms part of an automatic drive mechanism.

As a means for preventing damage to the device on sudden release of the operating lever 46, I preferably employ a resilient bumper or stop member 30' at the lower portion of the plunger 30 and adapted to engage the undersurface of the arm 11 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Various changes and modifications in the apparatus as herein disclosed will occur to those versed in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modification are embraced by the appended claims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a base plate, an upwardly and forwardly extended arm on said plate, means on the base plate for supporting and guiding a strip, a plunger mounted for vertically reciprocating movement in said arm toward and from said first named means, a marking unit, means at the lower end of the plunger for detachably and adjustably supporting said unit in difierent positions transversely with respect to said plunger, said unit comprising a plurality of adjustable elements to present at the lower surface of the unit a row of predetermined characters for marking a strip supported on said first named means, means coupled with the plunger and extending to opposed sides of the apparatus for supporting a pair of ribbon spools, means supported on said second named means and movable with respect thereto for guiding a ribbon from said spools in predetermined position beneath said marking unit, tensional means normally supporting said plunger in raised position, means for actuating said plunger to move the same downwardly to bring the row of characters of said marking unit in pressure engagement with the strip supported in said first named means, said ribbon guide means including means for laterally shifting the position of the ribbon, means on said base plate for actuating said last named means in the descent of the plunger to move the ribbon out of the path of said row of characters on said marking unit, and pivotal means actuated by said plunger of said elements to apply a predetermined mark on a workpiece, means movable with said mounting head carrying inked ribbon for inking the aligned row of characters, means for actuating said unit to move said row of characters thereon linearly toward and from a workpiece supported in said member in the operation of marking said workpiece, means comprising a detachable side portion on said head for adjustably and detachably supporting said marking unit in different positions longitudinally with respect to said workpiece support, and means yieldably supported in said head adjacent the marking unit for engaging a workpiece and supporting the same in flattened condition in the operation of marking the same.

' 3. In a machine of the character described employing a workpiece support and guide member and a marking head movable toward and from a workpiece supported on said member, said head including a marking unit having a plurality of adjustable marking elements to present on a surface thereof an aligned row of characters of said elements to apply a predetermined mark on a workpiece, means comprising inked ribbon for inking the aligned row of characters, means for actuating said unit to move said row of characters thereon toward and from a workpiece supported in said member in the operation of marking said workpiece, means for intermittently feeding the ribbon in each operation of the machine to bring a new section of the ribbon in position for inking said aligned row of characters, yieldable means normally supporting the ribbon in pressure engagement with the aligned row of characters, and means for actuating said last named means to clear said ribbon and said row of characters in movement of the row of characters into marking engagement with the workpiece.

4. In a marking machine of the character described, a marking head supported for movement between an upper inoperative position and a lower marking position, means adjustably and detachably supporting marking elements in said head, a workpiece engaging and compressing member supported in said head for upward and downward movement with respect thereto, the lower portion of said workpiece engaging member in the upper position thereof being in substantial alignment with said marking elements, resilient means yieldably supporting said workpiece engaging member in a lower position below said marking elements, yoke means carried by said marking head providing support for a ribbon member movable transversely with respect to said head, slotted means in said workpiece engaging member for aligning said ribbon with said marking elements, and a plurality of adjustable clip bars carried by said work-piece engaging member providing article engaging surfaces thereof below said ribbon.

5. In a marking apparatus of the character described comprising a base plate, and upwardly and forwardly extended arm on said base plate, means on the base plate for supporting and guiding a strip, a plunger mounted for vertically reciprocating movement in said arm toward and from said strip guiding means, said plunger carrying a marking unit comprising a plurality of adjustable elements to present at the lower portion of said unit a row of predetermined characters for marking a strip supported in said strip guiding means, means normally supporting said plunger in raised position, and means for actuating said plunger to bring the row of characters of said marking unit into pressure engagement with a strip supported in said strip guiding means,

the improvements that comprise means coupled with the plunger and'extendingto opposed sides thereof for supportinga pair of ribbon spools, means at the lower end of said plunger for detachably mounting said marking unitin a manner to provide transverse adjustment thereof; and means mounted in said last named means and having yieldable vertical movement with respect thereto for guiding-said ribbon beneath said marking unit and for engaging said strip in advance of the marking characters of said unit.

6. A marking apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the ribbon guide means includes detachable and transversely adjustable members for engaging a strip adjacent the area thereof to be marked and for supporting the ribbon in spaced relation to said strip until engaged by said marking characters.

7. In a machine of the character described employing a workpiece support andguicle member and a marking thereon linearly toward and from a workpiece suppolted in said member in the operation of marking said workpiece, means synchronized with the movement of said marking headand' ribbon carrying means for shifting saidribbonfrom a pressure engagement with said char actors for inkingthe same in the upper position of said head to a location out of alignment with said characters in the lower position of said head during marking engagement of said characters with said workpiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 251,667 Wilson' Dec. 27,1881 1,219,383 Ellis Mar. 13,. 1917 1,539,853 Littlefield June 2, 1925 1,681,882 Silverman Aug, 21, 1,928 1,714,795 Luedtke et al May 28, 1929 1,987,370 Pleger Jan. 8, 1934 2,015,216 Creser Sept. 24, 1935 2,084,044 Muller June 15, 1937 2,101,914 Morris Dec. 14, 1937 2,437,224 Emerson Mar. 2, 1948 2,491,947 Bardash Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN" PATENTS 606,090 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1948 

